Commissioners OK proclamation warning of marijuana use
The Richland County commissioners are taking part in an effort to “preserve and protect the county’s up-standing quality of life and the strength and integrity of the community” by voting Tuesday to approve a resolution declaring April as “National Cannabis Awareness Month.” The resolution was submitted by Benjamin Mutti, a Lexington resident who has been campaigning against the legalization and use of marijuana and promoting awareness of drug-related issues for a number of years.
“Since the legalization (of marijuana) this past fall, we’ve been going to different places and doing presentations on the problem with marijuana,” Mutti told the board. “We did have a dispensary that’s looking to locate in Bellville, but there’s opposition publicly to that.”
Mutti said he is an average citizen who is interested in the community and is the father of two sons, including two 16-year-olds. The resolution notes that marijuana use beginning in the teen years may affect brain development and that Richland County Children Services conducted 269 drug tests on minors in 2023 with 41 testing positive for marijuana.
Mutti said he reviewed police department annual report data from Sandusky, where there is a marijuana dispensary, which showed a 194% increase in charges of operating a vehicle while under the influence since the dispensary opened in 2019. He said that while OVI can also be related to alcohol, similar reports from Colorado, where marijuana use is legal, show “an uptick” in risky behavior, which includes an increase in alcohol consumption.
Economic issues with marijuana use cited
Mutti said there also are economic concerns over marijuana use, claiming it hurts local efforts to train people and create a skilled workforce that will help attract new employers.
“The problem is there is job absenteeism associated with commercial cannabis and there are also workplace accidents occurring,” he said. “No manufacturer, no employer is going to want to move to a community that has lots of dispensaries because the workforce is either not going to show up or they’ll be liable for accidental issues.”
Mutti also contended that legalization of the recreational use of marijuana helps “black market” sales of the drug, which is less expensive and more potent than state-regulated marijuana.
“You and I know that with the black market, you don’t have to pay taxes — it’s a criminal operation — but you also don’t have to go through the testing procedures, so the black market will always undersell the commercial campus,” he said, adding that was the situation in Oregon when that state first decriminalized drugs.
According to Mutti, commercial entities have marijuana products with 50 to 75 percent THC — the active chemical in marijuana –— which he said are adversely affecting young people’s minds and even those of older people.
“One of the things that local jurisdictions can do is prohibit commercial cannabis and that’s the only tool we see right now for local folks to make their decision on,” he said.
Mutti was accompanied by Mansfield City Council member the Rev. El Akuchie, who has supported Mutti in past drug awareness efforts.
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Richland County commissioners OK resolution warning of marijuana use
